Athletics Will Consider Medina for 2027 Rotation
The Oakland Athletics plan to evaluate Luis Medina as a starting pitcher for the upcoming 2027 baseball season.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Baseball
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The Oakland Athletics are considering a move to place Luis Medina into the starting rotation for the 2027 season. The team plans to implement a specialized winter training program to help the pitcher increase his stamina.
Why it matters
The transition marks a pivotal shift for Medina after he spent the 2026 season in the bullpen due to a lack of minor league options. This potential change aims to capitalize on his performance as he continues to move further past his 2025 injury.
During the 2026 season, Luis Medina posted a 3.08 ERA across 73 innings while maintaining a 12.3 percent walk rate. His role as a relief pitcher last year was largely dictated by a lack of minor league options following his 2025 surgery.
The players
Luis Medina
He is a professional baseball pitcher who returned to the mound in 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Oakland Athletics
This is a professional baseball team that competes in Major League Baseball.
The details
Oakland is currently discussing a targeted training regimen with Medina intended to improve his ability to pitch deeper into games. This development follows his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined the pitcher for the entire 2025 season.
Timeline
Medina missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from surgery.
During 2026, Medina served as a relief pitcher for the team.
A training program to improve pitching length is set for winter 2026-2027.
The team will decide his 2027 role during spring training.
Season Trajectory
The potential shift to the starting rotation represents a major evolution in how the team manages their pitching depth following the 2025 Tommy John surgery rehabilitation protocol. This move indicates the franchise is looking to stabilize its roster as it enters the 2027 season.
Fantasy managers should monitor the upcoming spring training, as a move to the rotation would significantly increase Medina's potential for volume and strikeouts. His performance during the winter training program will be the primary indicator for his readiness to handle a starter's workload.
The takeaway
The team's decision to invest in a specialized training program reflects a long-term commitment to restoring Medina to a starter's role. Success in this transition will depend on his ability to lower his walk rate while increasing his total innings pitched.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, visit Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Sports.
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